Who doesn’t want to raise their metabolism? From creams to pills to supplements, products that promise to speed up your metabolism are selling like candy in the diet industry. While most products offer bogus weight loss claims, you might find some products that can help your body burn calories more efficiently – and they’re in your kitchen cupboard already! Flavorful spices like curry powder, cayenne peppers and chili powder can pack a powerful punch and flavor your dishes while at the same time providing metabolism-raising benefits. And don’t worry, you won’t have to inhale a bushel of hot peppers or set your mouth on fire to get a boost. Just a moderate pinch of spice will add flavor to your dish and help speed up your metabolism…

The Heat is On

It’s true that hot foods can help your body burn more calories. When you eat foods with a kick, the spiciness elevates your body temperature and makes your heart beat faster, both which require energy. But the main reason that those who consume spicy foods are able to stay slimmer than others doesn’t lie solely in the metabolism-boosting effects.

Because spices like curry powder and cayenne peppers have such a strong flavor, any dish that incorporates them will have a rich aroma and taste. Your meal will have such a bold flavor that you’ll end up needing to eat less to feel satisfied. After all, which would you be more likely to overeat: fresh-baked French bread with butter or fresh-baked French bread with a spicy pepper spread? Also, foods that accompany robust spices are typically healthier than foods that rely on sugar for flavor. Tomatoes, lentils, chicken, and shrimp are examples of healthy foods that are packed with nutrients and form an integral part of many spicy dishes.

Chili Peppers

A staple of Mexican, Szechuan and Indian cuisine, chili peppers have been cultivated in South and Central America for over seven thousand years. The component that gives chili peppers their trademark spice is capsaicin, and the more capsaicin the pepper contains, the spicier it is. Habañero and Scotch bonnet peppers take the prize for the hottest, while jalapeños come next. If you’re not ready for those yet, the good news is that even mild, sweet red peppers contain this substance. Aside from providing a flavorful kick, capsaicin helps inhibit inflammation, therefore making it a potential treatment for arthritis and nerve disorders.

Feel the Burn:

Add some chili peppers to your sautéed veggie dishes to make getting your 5-a-day more interesting.

While preparing bread or cornbread, add chili peppers to the batter before baking.

Whatever you do, don’t touch your eyes after handling hot peppers – wash your hands with soap and water before touching any part of your face.

Curry

Curry powder is actually not a single spice – it refers to a blend of spices which vary according to the region. Although each blend is unique, most curry powders contain some combination of coriander, turmeric and cumin. Other typical ingredients include cinnamon, black pepper, horseradish, and nutmeg. Curry powder can include as few as four ingredients, but some contain up to 30. You can experiment with making your own curry to control the amount of spice that’s added to the blend, making the powder as hot as desired. Few people in the United States have time to buy whole spices and grind them into curry powder, but in India it’s a different story; each family has their own special curry powder recipe, and they grind fresh spices daily.

The word “curry,” which means a saucy stew, refers to a dish that is spiced with curry powder. There are hundreds of curry dishes in India alone. Some are named after the food they’re made of, such as potato curry, bean curry or chicken curry. Other curries incorporate shredded coconut or coconut milk – try our coconut shrimp curry recipe for an example! Indian curry dishes are the spiciest, while curries from Pakistan and Bangladesh tend to be milder. English curries rely more on garlic and ginger for flavor, while Chinese curries typically include sweet green peppers, chicken and potatoes. Both of these curries are fairly mild in flavor, but they’re usually accompanied by hot sauce or hot chili oil for those who like it hot. No matter what type of curry a particular country favors, the dish is usually served with rice or pita bread to soak up the extra juice.

Feel the Burn:

Rub curry powder on top of a halibut filet before baking.

Blend with sour cream and marmalade for a tasty veggie dip.

Add curry powder to deviled eggs.

To make a tangy marinade for chicken, blend yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and curry powder together.

Cayenne Peppers

Cayenne peppers are one type of chili pepper. Fiery hot, this pepper is used to spice everything from Guadalajaran burritos to Lebanese falafels. Its name is derived from the place where it was originated – the Indian-named Cayenne region of French Guiana. Once confined to only this area, this long, twisted red pepper is now grown in India, Africa, Mexico, and most sub-tropical regions. A traditional staple of herbal medicine lore, cayenne pepper is currently being studied for its ability to help relieve the pain of conditions like headaches and arthritis. Cayenne’s defense is two-fold. First, it causes our brains to secrete more endorphins, which are “feel-good” chemicals. Second, it aids in blocking the transmission of substance P, which carries pain signals to the brain.

This spicy food also has beneficial effects on our cardiovascular and digestive systems. Bottles of cayenne sold in the supermarket contain the pepper’s ground pods and seeds, but you can also use the pepper whole – both options will add a little something extra to your meal.

Feel the Burn:

Sprinkle cayenne over soups.

Use as a condiment with seafood.

Add it to grilled or roasted meats.

Add this potent spice sparingly until you know how hot you like it. Remember, you can always add more if you want to turn up the heat!

Have fun experimenting with spices and global dishes. Spicy food will raise your heart rate and boost your metabolism, flavor your dishes and lend a hint of the exotic to your ordinary diet. Keep in mind that consuming metabolism-boosting spices is only one way to help slim down your waist. To really maximize your metabolism, make sure to include plenty of exercise and fresh foods into your daily routine as well. In the meantime, get hot and heavy with spicy food from around the world!

How Calorie-Conscious are You?

One of the great secrets of weight loss isn't such a secret after all - limit the amount of calories you consume each day and eat the right amount of calories for your body and you'll lose weight. While calorie-counting seems like a tedious task, having a basic knowledge of which foods will send you into a diet trap isn't. So just how calorie-conscious are you? Click here to take this quiz.